Disposable and conformal liner for completely and internally sealing a container and an associated lid

ABSTRACT

A disposable and conformal liner that completely and internally seals a container and an associated lid. The container has a bottom portion and two pair of side portions. The two pair of side portions of the container extend upwardly from the bottom portion of the container to a rim, and are attached to each other adjacently. The disposable and conformal liner includes a bottom section, two pair of side wall sections, and a pair of flap sections. The two pair of side wall sections extend upwardly from respective sides of the bottom section and are continuous with each other adjacently, so as to form a box-like main body. The box-like body is conformingly received in the container. The pair of flap sections extend from an opposing pair of side wall sections to free ends. The free end of one flap section is folded onto itself and is bonded thereat so as to form a reinforced strip, leaving a remaining portion of the one flap section a same size as the other flap section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a liner, and moreparticularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to adisposable and conformal liner for completely and internally sealing acontainer and an associated lid.

Description of the Prior Art

With RVs having limited space and water, cleanup of plastic storagecontainers is always an issue.

Not only is there a need to overcome this problem, the embodiments ofthe present invention are both useful and necessary in every householdthat uses plastic storage containers for leftovers or takes themwork/school/gym, parties.

Splatter is caused in a microwave when just the bowl is heated in themicrowave and the lid is off. Food can suffer from freezer burn.Containers, such, as a Tupperware plastic storage container, can becomestained by foods and become unclean.

Lid portions of the containers are not reconfigurable into differentsizes from square to rectangular, etc.

The container or the lid do not work like gaskets when the lid is placedon the container, thus keeping the food fresher for less time.

The liners do not come in different sizes to accommodate different sizedcontainers.

Numerous innovations for container liners have been provided in theprior art, which will be described below in chronological order to showadvancement in the art, and which are incorporated herein in theirentirety by reference thereto. Even though these innovations may besuitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address,however, they differ from the embodiments of the present invention, inthat they do not teach a disposable and conformal liner for completelyand internally sealing a plastic storage container and an associatedlid. For example:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,263 to Frew et al

U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,263—issued to Frew et al. on Jan. 20, 1976 in U.S.class 215 and subclass 12.1—teaches a container having a disposableliner of a flexible plastic composition. The liner incorporates anelasticized overlap to cooperate with one or more ridges on thecontainer in holding it in place while in use.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,973 to Ahern

U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,973—issued to Ahern on Oct. 31, 1978 in U.S. class220 and subclass 495.02—teaches a re-use and extended use paint bucketof conventional form and proportions by disposable, thin, and internalfluid-tight liners that are vacuum-formed from relatively thickthermoplastic sheet material. Each liner has, exceedingly thin bottomand side walls, but is self-sustaining in shape because of circularstiffening by a thick upper rim shaped to snap-lock with, and overhang,the bucket rim, and also because of longitudinal stiffening imparted byseveral inwardly-projecting hemicylindrical ribs disposed along the sidewalls where they will serve as vents, which facilitate insertion andremoval of the close-fitting bucket liner.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,906 to Brown et al

U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,906—issued to Brown et al. on Apr. 4, 1995 in U.S.class 426 and subclass 106—teaches a packaging system for fresh produce,such as, fresh lettuce and the like food products. The packaging systemrelies upon a quadrilaterally shaped and fairly rigid paperboardcontainer having more than four corner portions therein and with aninner liner used for the storage and transport of the produce, such as,lettuce heads. In a preferred embodiment, the containers are octagonalshaped with four rectangular shaped elongate walls connected at theircorner portions by four relatively short angularly located connectingwalls. Portions of these containers, and, particularly, the side wallsare capable of being reused. Moreover, they are adapted for storage andtransport in stacked relationship and also fit upon conventionalpallets.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,686 to Julian

U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,686—issued to Julian on Jan. 11, 2000 in U.S. class248 and subclass 99—teaches a device for stretching a top of a flexibleliner around a top of a waste or storage container to hold it securelywithin the container for an indefinite period of time by inserting afolded-over or turned-down portion of the liner, which is outside of thecontainer into a slot of an accumulator and rotating the accumulatoreither right or left until the liner is stretched tightly around the topof the container, then placing a restraining arm under the edge of thestretched liner in a manner to prevent the accumulator fromcounter-rotating until the restraining arm is released.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,432 to Koehnke

U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,432—issued to Koehnke on Apr. 18, 2000 in U.S. class215 and subclass 11.3—teaches a disposable, liquid-impermeable, andsterile container for liquid infant foods. The storage containerincludes an upper portion for receiving the liquid infant foods. Theupper portion tapers into a lower portion for containing the liquidinfant foods. The upper portion has an enlarged peripheral widthrelative to the lower portion, with the lower portion having aperipheral width that is less than an internal circumference of a babyfeeding bottle. The container has complementarily opposed seal stripsthat when engaged prevent air ingress to the storage container. Theupper and lower portions of the storage container are of general tubularcross-section. The plastic of the storage container is selected towithstand temperatures lower than 32° F. In a preferred embodiment, thesealing apparatus is re-sealable in a Ziploc® storage container. Thestorage container has in its lower portion markings for fluid capacity.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,762 to Friedland et al

U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,762—issued to Friedland et al. on May 29, 2001 inU.S. class 428 and subclass 43—teaches a covering sheet for applying toa selected surface in substantially fitted and covering relation. Thecovering includes a flexible sheet of predetermined size and thicknessand has a rectangular grid of weakened lines to provide rectilinearyield lines extending in a first direction and in a second direction atright angles to the first direction to enable tearing by hand alongselected ones to the grid lines as a tear in a first direction. Thesheet has individual perforations extending completely through itsthickness and located at the points of intersection of the axes of theweakened lines. The perforations facilitate changes in the direction ofa tear at a selected point of intersection and to extend the tear in thesecond direction so as to achieve a desired size of sheet. The weakenedlines further include tear lines extending diagonally betweenperforations to facilitate changes in the direction of tearing and toprovide relieved corners to better fit into locations, such as, thecorners of drawers, enclosed shelves, etc. The covering sheet has anadhesive layer, such as, a pressure-sensitive adhesive on its reversesurface, and with the perforations extending also through the adhesivelayer and through a release medium covering the adhesive layer face ofthe sheet. The perforations may include a reticulated series ofthrough-cut and micro-perforations arranged in oriented relation withthe edges of the sheet. The release medium is a removable sheet on thereverse face covering the adhesive layer or it is applied in coveringrelation with the obverse face of the sheet when the covering sheet issupplied in rolled and self-wound form usually upon a cardboardcylinder.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,398 to O'Brien

U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,398—issued to O'Brien on Jan. 20, 2004 in U.S. class220 and subclass 495.02—teaches a paint container liner system includingdisposable liners and an open container for receiving at least one ofthe disposable liners. The liners are sized and configured to fit intothe inside of the container and around the rim of the container. Theliners are maintained in position in the container by a suctiongenerated during installation in one embodiment, and by a noncuringadhesive interposed between the liner and container in anotherembodiment. The liners also are stretched around the rim of thecontainer, and in another embodiment, configured with a rounded bottomto retain the liner in place during use. The system also includes acontainer cap with a slot for supporting a paint brush during periods ofnon-use.

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2007/0267415 toValenti

United States Patent Application Publication Number2007/0267415—published to Valenti on Nov. 22, 2007 in U.S class 220 andsubclass 495.11—teaches a disposable liner with or without a container,which stores and/or disposes cooking liquids, including grease and otherliquids.

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2012/0045153 toSchmal et al

United States Patent Application Publication Number2012/0045153—published to Schmal et al. on Feb. 23, 2012 in U.S. class383 and subclass 118—teaches a liner having an elastic securingmechanism that is placed in a vessel to form and maintain a barrierbetween the vessel and objects contained therein. The liner includes anelastic securing band secured around the perimeter of the open top endof the liner using a plurality of spaced-apart tack welds or rivets. Inone embodiment, the liner material is folded over the elastic andultrasonic sealing is used to burn through the elastic and seal thefolded liner material to it, thereby securing the elastic to the liner.In use, the liner is placed within a receptacle of the vessel and theopen top end is folded outward and downward over a rim of the vessel,such that the elastic engages an outside of the vessel to form a secureand snug fit of the liner to the vessel. A failure to a portion of theelastic is limited to that portion of the elastic only and propagationof the failure is limited by the rivets.

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2012/0165170 toWischusen, III

United States Patent Application Publication Number2012/0165170—published to Wischusen III on Jun. 28, 2012 in U.S. class493 and subclass 100—teaches a removable and conformal liner for abeverage container. When the liner is inserted into an internal cavityof a beverage container the body of the liner substantially conforms tothe interior cavity. The container liner is adapted to provide snugcuffing over the lip portion of the beverage container. In oneembodiment, the container liner is configured for heat shrink cuffing.In another embodiment, the container liner is configured for stretchcuffing. A system for manual, mechanized, and a combination ofmechanized and manual installation of the removable conformal liner isalso taught.

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2012/0183726 toCalkins

United States Patent Application Publication Number2012/0183726—published to Calkins on Jul. 19, 2012 in U.S. class 428 andsubclass 137—teaches a surface covering that is a multilayered compositematerial. The multilayer composite material includes a top facing layerof polymeric film and a bottom layer of unsupported foam.

It is apparent that numerous innovations for container liners have beenprovided in the prior art, which are adapted to be used. Furthermore,even though these innovations may be suitable for the specificindividual purposes to which they address, however, they would not besuitable for the purposes of the embodiments of the present invention asheretofore described, namely, a disposable and conformal liner forcompletely and internally sealing a container and an associated lid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is toprovide a disposable and conformal liner for completely and internallysealing a container and an associated lid, which avoids thedisadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to providereduced splatter in a microwave even when just the container is heatedin the microwave and the lid is off, as a result of the presence of theembodiments of the present invention still containing splatter.

Still another object of the embodiments of the present invention is toreduce freezer burn, as a result of the additional barrier created byembodiments of the present invention.

Yet another object of the embodiments of the present invention is tokeep containers from becoming stained by foods.

Still yet another object of the embodiments of the present invention isto keep clean a container, such, as a Tupperware® plastic storagecontainer, with only the liner of the embodiments of the presentinvention becoming dirty and after use it is discarded

Yet still another object of the embodiments of the present invention isto work like gasket when the lid is placed on the container, thushelping to keep the food fresher longer.

Still yet another object of the embodiments of the present invention isthat the liner of the embodiments of the present inventions comes indifferent sizes to accommodate different sized containers.

Briefly stated, yet still another object of the embodiments of thepresent invention is a disposable and conformal liner that completelyand internally seals a container and an associated lid. The containerhas a bottom portion and two pair of side portions. The two pair of sideportions of the container extend upwardly from the bottom portion of thecontainer to a rim, and are attached to each other adjacently. Thedisposable and conformal liner includes a bottom section, two pair ofside wall sections, and a pair of flap sections. The two pair of sidewall sections extend upwardly from respective sides of the bottomsection and are continuous with each other adjacently, so as to form abox-like main body. The box-like body is conformingly received in thecontainer. The pair of flap sections extend from an opposing pair ofside wall sections to free ends. The free end of one flap section isfolded onto itself and is bonded thereat so as to form a reinforcedstrip, leaving a remaining portion of the one flap section a same sizeas the other flap section.

The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of thepresent invention are set forth in the appended claims. The embodimentsof the present invention themselves, however, both as to theirconstruction and to their method of operation, together with additionalobjects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from thefollowing description of the specific embodiments when read andunderstood in connection with the accompanying figures of the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the disposable andconformal liner of the embodiments of the present invention completelyand internally sealing a plastic storage container and an associatedlid;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the disposable andconformal liner of the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the disposable andconformal liner of the embodiments of the present invention inserted ina container, with the flaps thereof in an open position extending out ofthe container and with the opposing side sections extending slightlypast a pair of opposing edges of the container to form a gasket seal;and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the disposable andconformal liner of the embodiments of the present invention inserted ina container, with the flaps thereof in a closed position extendingacross the container and the opposing side sections extending slightlypast a pair of opposing edges of the container to form a gasket seal.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGIntroduction

-   -   10 disposable and conformal liner of embodiments of present        invention for completely and internally sealing container 12 and        associated lid 14    -   12 container    -   14 lid    -   16 bottom portion of container 12    -   18 two pair of side portions of container 12    -   20 rim of container 12

Overall Configuration of Disposable and Conformal Liner 10

-   -   22 bottom section for conformingly overlying bottom 16 of        container 12    -   24 two pair of side wall sections    -   26 pair of flap sections    -   28 box-like main body for being conformingly received by        container 12    -   30 free ends of pair of flap sections 26    -   32 reinforcing strip of free end 30 of one flap section of pair        of flap sections 26    -   34 remaining portion of one flap section of pair of flap        sections 26

Specific Configuration of Bottom Section 22

-   -   36 perimeter of bottom section 22

Specific Configuration of Two Pair of Side Wall Sections 24

-   -   38 top of each side wall section of two pair of side wall        sections 24 for overlapping rim 20 of container 12    -   40 gasket of top of each side wall section of two pair of side        wall sections 24

The Specific Configuration of the Pair of Flaps 36

-   -   42 end portions of pair of flaps 36 for overlapping rim 20 of        container 12 so as to contribute to gasket 40 when lid 14 is        pressed applied onto container 12 for purpose of fully covering        contents of container 24

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The Introduction

Referring now to the figures, and particularly FIG. 1, the disposableand conformal liner of the embodiments of the present invention is showngenerally at 10 for completely and internally sealing a container 12 andan associated lid 14, wherein the container 12 has a bottom portion 16with a shape and size and two pair of side portions 18 with shapes andsizes, and wherein the two pair of side portions of the container 12extend upwardly from the bottom portion 16 of the container to a rim 20and are attached to each other adjacently.

It is to be understood that the container 12 is a plastic storagecontainer, such as, but not limited to, Tupperware®, of any shape andsize.

The Overall Configuration of the Disposable and Conformal Liner 10

The overall configuration of the disposable and conformal liner 10 canbest be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, and as such, will be discussed withreference thereto.

The disposable and conformal liner 10 is one-piece and comprises abottom section 22, two pair of side wall sections 24, and a pair of flapsections 26. The two pair of side wall sections 24 extend upwardly fromrespective sides of the bottom section 22 and are continuous with eachother adjacently so as to form a box-like main body 28 for beingconformingly received by the container 12. The pair of flap sections 26extend from an opposing pair of side wall sections 24 to free ends 30.The free end 30 of one flap section 26 is folded onto itself and isbonded thereat so as to form a reinforced strip 32, leaving a remainingportion 34 of the one flap section 26 a same size as the other flapsection 26.

It is to be understood that the one flap section 26 can be folded andbonded onto itself from either the top or the bottom of the one flap 26.

The Specific Configuration of the Bottom Section 22

The specific configuration of the bottom section 22 can best be seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The bottom 16 has a size and a shape defined by a perimeter 36 and isfor substantially matching the size and shape of, and for conforminglyoverlying, the bottom 16 of the container 12.

The Specific Configuration of the Two Pair of Side Wall Sections 24

The specific configuration of the two pair of side wall sections 24 canbest be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, and as such, will be discussed withreference thereto.

The two pair of side wall sections 24 extend upwardly from the perimeter36 of the bottom 16 to a top 38, in which the tops 38 of a pair ofopposing side wall sections 24 are for overlapping the rim 20 of thecontainer 12 so as to form a gasket 40 when the lid 14 is pressedapplied onto the container 12 for the purpose of fully covering contentsof the container 24, and have shapes and sizes for substantiallymatching the shapes and sizes of, and for conformingly overlying, thetwo pair of side portions 18 of the container 12.

The Specific Configuration of the Pair of Flaps 36

The specific configuration of the pair of flaps 36 can best be seen inFIGS. 2-4, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

The pair of flaps 36 have end portions 42 and extend foldingly from thetops 38 of the other two opposing side wall sections 24, and when in ano-use position, drape freely downwardly (FIG. 3), and when in a in-useposition, fold inwardly over contents of the container 12, with the freeends 30 of the other pair of opposing side wall sections 24 overlappingeach other with the reinforced strip 32 of the free ends 30 of the othertwo opposing side wall sections 24 being on the underneath (FIG. 4), andwith the end portions 42 being for overlapping the rim 20 of thecontainer 12 so as to contribute to the gasket 40 when the lid 14 ispressed applied onto the container 12 for the purpose of fully coveringcontents of the container 24.

The liner is placed in the plastic storage container and holds an itemto be stored within without the contents making contact with theTupperware type plastic storage container.

The liners are shaped and sized to fit specific Tupperware type plasticstorage containers; in this way the plastic storage containers can beused as the packaging (placing the liners within the plastic storagecontainers). Obviously, the liners can be sold separately asreplacements.

The problems the liner solves include:

-   -   Eliminating staining of plastic storage containers and lids;    -   Reducing odors;    -   The contents and liner can be removed from the plastic storage        container eliminating washing the plastic storage containers        thereby saving water;    -   Saved food lasts longer;    -   Eliminating grease from entering drain/septic;    -   Protecting against freezer burn by forming an additional        barrier;    -   The liners are microwave safe;    -   BPA free; and    -   Recyclable.

Impressions

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated anddescribed as embodied in a disposable and conformal liner for completelyand internally sealing a plastic storage container and an associatedlid, however, they are not limited to the details shown, since it willbe understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, andchanges in the forms and details of the embodiments of the presentinvention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilledin the art without departing in any way from the spirit of theembodiments of the present invention.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe embodiments of the present invention that others can by applyingcurrent knowledge readily adapt them for various applications withoutomitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairlyconstitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of theembodiments of the present invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A disposable and conformal liner forcompletely and internally sealing a container and an associated lid,wherein the container has a bottom portion with a shape and size and twopair of side portions with shapes and sizes, wherein the two pair ofside portions of the container extend upwardly from the bottom portionof the container to a rim and are attached to each other adjacently, andwherein said disposable and conformal liner comprising: a) a bottomsection; b) two pair of side wall sections; and c) a pair of flapsections; wherein said two pair of side wall sections extend upwardlyfrom respective sides of said bottom section; wherein said two pair ofside wall sections are continuous with each other adjacently so as toform a box-like main body; wherein said box-like body is for beingconformingly received by the container; wherein said pair of flapsections extend from an opposing pair of side wall sections to freeends; and wherein said free end of one flap section is folded ontoitself and is bonded thereat so as to form a reinforced strip, leaving aremaining portion of said one flap section a same size as the other flapsection.
 2. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 1, wherein saidbottom has a size and a shape defined by a perimeter; and wherein saidsize and shape of said bottom is for substantially matching the size andshape of, and for conformingly overlying, the bottom of the container.3. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 2, wherein said two pairof side wall sections extend upwardly from said perimeter of said bottomto a top; wherein said tops of a pair of opposing side wall sections arefor overlapping the rim of the container so as to form a gasket; andwherein said two pair of side wall sections have shapes and sizes forsubstantially matching the shapes and sizes of, and for conforminglyoverlying, the two pair of side portions of the container.
 4. Thedisposable and conformal liner of claim 1, wherein said pair of flapshave end portions.
 5. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 3,wherein said pair of flaps extend foldingly from said tops of the othertwo opposing side wall sections.
 6. The disposable and conformal linerof claim 1, wherein when said flaps are in a no-use position, they drapefreely downwardly.
 7. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 3,wherein when said flaps are in an in-use position, they fold inwardlyfor covering contents of the container; wherein said free ends of saidother pair of opposing side wall sections overlap each other; whereinsaid reinforced strip of said free ends of said other two opposing sidewall sections is underneath; and wherein said end portions being foroverlapping the rim of said container so as to contribute to said gasketwhen the lid is pressed onto the container for a purpose of fullycovering contents of the container.
 8. The disposable and conformalliner of claim 1, wherein said liner is microwave safe.
 9. Thedisposable and conformal liner of claim 1, wherein said liner is BPAfree.
 10. The disposable and conformal liner of claim 1, wherein saidliner is recyclable.